Marksville is a city in and the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,537 at the 2000 census. Louisiana's first land based casino, Paragon Casino Resort, opened in Marksville in June 1994. It is run by the Tunica-Biloxi tribe. The city was named after Marc Eliche, who established a trading post after his wagon broke down in this area.. He was an Italian trader, believe to be from Venice, whose Italian name was Marco Litche, that became Marc Eliche after his trading post was established in 1794. Marksville was noted on Louisiana maps as of 1809. He later donated land that became the Courthouse Square that is still the center of Marksville today.